Double ball lock caster



Get. 17, 1933. w. H. NOELTING DOUBLE BALL LOCK CASTER Filed July 13, 1931 fob"? KM via ATTORNEYJ.

' =10 construction shown in'Fig. 5.

; UNIT-ED s'rA'rss PATE..

1,930,622 DOUBLE BALL LOCK CASTER William H. Noelting, Evansville, Ind assignor to Faultless Caster Company, Evansville, incl, a corporation Application July 13,1931. Serial No. 550,414

. 1 Claim. (CI. 16-21) This invention relates to a swivelling caster tion, the stem 15 includes a head portion 16 which construction. is positioned below the-usual level of the head One object of the invention is to replace standportion of the replaced stem so that the spring ard casters with the improved caster or" the presportions 12 of the socket bear upon the head 5 ent construction in a predetermined association portion and preferably immediately beneath the 6 so that there results a non-rotative, readily dehorizontal median plane thereof, so that, not/only tachable caster mounting. doesthe original spring frame socket serve as a Another, and the main object of the invention, stem retainer for detachably retaining the stem is to provide a caster construction whichis arin thesocket, as heretofore, but now also serves I 10 ranged so that the load is coaxially transmitted to frictionally hold the stem against casual to a yoke supported member and'said member is rotation. The original caster, it is to be underswivally mounted for free swivelling and which is stood, included a stem, rigid with the yoke and laterally constrained by an anti-friction arrange,- the swivelling between the yoke and the leg took ment for lateral thrust purposes and which yoke place by theswivelling of the stem in the socket, supported member is locked to the anchoring whereas, with the present invention, the swivel- 7 member of the caster construction solely through ling of the yoke takes placebetween the yoke and the anti-friction construction. 1 j the stern.

.Ingaddition to the accomplishment of the fore- When this type of swivel operation is desired, going objects, one feature of the invention conthe're is introduced into the caster construction .10 sists in the detachable connection of the Swivela problem which requires that there be incorling member and the yoke supporting the same. poratedin the new caster construction provision Another feature of the invention consists in the for preventing lateral cocking of the yoke relative provision of means for supplying torand retaining to the stem while it is under load by reason of the in the caster construction, lubricantfor lubricatoffsetting of the wheel axis withreference to the.

25 ing purposes. stern axis or swiveling axis. 7 j i The full nature of the invention will be under- Also to insure substantially frictionless swivelstood from' the accompanying drawing and the 'ing, which. is one of the prime purposes for refollowing description and claim: placing the old caster construction by the present In the .drawingFig. 1 is a centralsectional View one, there. must be provided an anti-friction load 30 through the caster construction embodying the sustaining connection between the yoke and the 35 invention, the wheel and aportion'of the yoke stem or load supporting member. being shown in elevation and operatively asso- ,The caster includes the usual yoke having .the elated with the load supporting leg and as a redependingears 17 which rotatably mount thereplacement caster. p f v between the wheel 18 upon the axle 19 and said 35 Fig. 2 is a similar View of amodified form of ears are connected by the horizontal yoke portion caster constructionshown in Fig. 1. .20 suitably apertured as at 21. r

Fig. 3' is a similar view of a still further modified The swivel connectionbetween the stem or form of caster construction. load anchoring member and the yoke includes a Fig i is a top plan view of the plate caster top plate 22 having a central opening 23 in which g is mounted portion 24 of the stem, said stem in- Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 andof a plate .cluding the-upper enlargement 25 and the lower caster construction. f 1 v enlargement 26', whereby the top plate is rigidly In Fig. 1 of the drawing, 10 indicates aload secured'to the stem or load anchoring member15. supporting leg having a longitudinal. opening 11 Coaxial with the opening 23' is an upwardly di-J therein, and associated therewith is a standard rected, .arcuately'sectioned annular portion 27 caster socket having the longitudinally directed which is adapted to engage upon itsunder face and inwardly directed springarms 12 carried by an upper annular series of balls 28. The plate the anchoring plate 13 secured to the bottomof terminates in an outwardly projecting peripheral the leg.- flange 29. A second and lower series of balls 30 59 As indicated by the dotted lines l'in Fig. 1, are provided and as shown'in Fig. 1, aball retainer the normal position of the socket spring portions of cylindrical form 31 includes an inturned'IJoris inwardly directed. 'tion 32 that underlies the lower balls. A sleeve To secure greater freedom of swivelling, the 33includes,-at its lower end, the inturned portion present invention is adapted to replace the pre- 35 which serves to retain the retainer and the vious caster structure and in the present inventop plate in rigid connection, the top plate bearing upon the top of the retainer. The sleeve, as indicated at 36, is directed inwardly and overlies the peripheral flange of the top plate. The top plate and retainer together form an enclosed chamber with a restricted opening or throat in its lower end.

A swiveling member 37 includes a reduced portion 38 that is mounted in the central opening 21 of the yoke and beneath the yoke is mounted the washer 39 and the extended end of the reduced portion 38 is laterally enlarged as at 40 for rigidly securing the swiveling member to the yoke. This swiveling member is coaxially recessed in its upper face as at 41 to nestingly clear the stem enlargement 26. The swiveling member in spaced relation to the yoke, includes a peripheral lateral enlargement 42, the upper surface 43 of which is engaged by the upper series of balls and the lower surface 44 of which is engaged by the lower series of balls.

The aforesaid construction insures that the load transmitted from the top plate through the upper series of balls is imparted to the swiveling member by the upper series of balls and cocking of the swiveling member in the chamber by reason of a the eccentricity of the axis of axle 19 with reference to the swiveling axis, is substantially eliminated by the balls 30, which are provided for thrust purposes. Likewise, the balls 30 constitute the lock and the sole means whereby the swiveling member is permanently secured to the top plate.

' In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, wherein the caster is arranged for lubrication. In this figure, numerals of the onehundred series indicate like parts, to wit; 115 indicates the stem; 116 indicates the head thereof; 124 indicates the yoke receivable portion thereof; 125 indicates the upper flange; 126 indicates the lower enlargement whereby the stem is rigidly secured to the top plate 122 which is also provided; 127 indicates an annular race way, which bears upon the upper series of balls 128 and the top plate bears upon the upper edgeof the retainer 131 having the-lower inturned portion 132 and rigidly secured to the top'plate through the sleeve 133 by the lower inturned portion 135 and the upper inturned portion 136. The sleeve 132 is coaxially. offset as at 150, and'terminates in an inwardly directed annular flange 151 forming a peripherally arranged annular chamber with the retainer which receives a sealing member 152 that bears upon the swiveling construction includingthe member 137 which includes the-reduced portion 138 laterally enlarged as at 140 to bear upon a washer 139 beneath the yoke.

In the present form of the invention, another washer 134 is interposed between the upper face of the yoke and the swiveling member. The lower series of balls is indicated by the numeral 130, the wheel by the numeral 118, the yoke ears by the numeral 117, and the wheel axle by the numeral 119. The swiveling member 137 is provided with a threaded opening 160 that provides access to thecentral recess I41 and said threaded opening mounts a pressure operable, lubricant closure fixture 161. Lubricant is supplied under pressure through fixture 161 and is retained in the central recess 141 of the swiveling member and the excess is discharged be tween. the upper series of balls 128 and thence downwardly to the lower series of balls and is prevented from escaping therebetween and dropping on to the yoke by the retainer or sealing member 152. The lubricant is retained by th closure 161.

In Fig. 3 a modified form of the invention is illustrated, wherein the swiveling member and the yoke are not permanently connected together although the swiveling member is permanently locked to the top plate only through the balls. In this form of the invention, similar parts are indicated by numerals of the twohundred series. 216 indicates the head of the stem 215 suitably anchored by'the'portions 226, 224 and 225 to the top plate 222 having the race forming portion 227 which bears upon the upper series of balls 228. The flange 229 in the present form of the invention, instead of being only outwardly directed, is downwardly directed and bears upon the upper end of the lower ball retainer 231 having the lower inturned ball retaining portion 232. A shell or sleeve 233 includes an inturned lower retainer retaining portion 235 and an upper inturned plate engaging portion 236.

The lower inturned portion 235 includes a coaxially arranged depending portion 250 terminating in an inwardly directed peripheral flange 251 forming a groove receiving the annular sealing member 252 which bears upon the swiveling member 237. The swiveling member 237 is re cessed as at 241 to nest and clear stem enlargement 226. The lower series of balls is indicated by the numeral 230 and bear upon the under face of the lateral enlargement 244 of the swiveling member. The upper series of balls 228 bear upon the upper face 243 thereof. The lower series of balls constitutes the lower and sole lock between the plate and the swiveling member, the plate and retainer being secured together by the sleeve 233.

In this form of the invention, the intermediate swiveling member is centrally apertured as at 2'70 and the yoke 220 is also centrally apertured as at 221 and the yoke aperture is peripherally defined by the upwardly directed collar 234 which bears upon alower shoulder face of the swiveling member. A suitable washer 239 is positioned beneath the yoke and the head portion 240 of a stud 271, the same being threaded into the opening 270 whereby the yoke is rigidly and detachably secured to the swiveling member 237 and the aforesaid construction permits a so-called unit assembly and subsequent attachment of the yoke to the assembly. This form of invention likewise includes an aperture or supply passage 260, which has a portion threaded to receive the pressure operable lubricant closure fixture 261. Lubricant supplied thereto follows the path in substantially the same manner as previously described for the modification represented in Fig. 2 and is retained in the caster construction by the sealing mem- .ber 252. If desired, this lubrication feature may be omitted, in which event the portions 250 and 251 as well as the sealing member 252 are omitted and the sleeve 233 is formed at this lower portion, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 1. Also, in this modification, the stud instead of being apertured as at 260 would be a solid stud.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and the same is directed to the plate caster type. In said figures, 510 indicates the load supporting member and there is provided a plate 513 of any suitable outline, apertured at 509 to receive screws or equivalentload anchoring members 508. The plate includes a central circular depressed portion 512 which terminates in an inwardly directed flange 50'! in turn terminating in a coaxial downwardly directed tubular portion 506. The top plate 522 and ball retainer 531 may be secured togetherby the sleeve 533 having an inturned upper portion 536 and an inturned lower portion 535, the same being of substantially the same 'form as illustrated in Fig. 1. The lateral enlargement of said sleeve forms a lower shoulder 580 that is arranged to seat upon the inturned portion 507 of the plate which in this form of the invention constitutes the anchoring member. The sleeve 533 is press fitted into the plate aperture and rigidly secured thereto by said press fitting operation.

This form of the invention also is illustrated embodying, if and when desired, the lubrication feature and when this is employed there is provided the sealing member 552 and supply fixture 551.

Likewise, this form of the invention may, if desired, embody the detachable connection of the yoke to the swiveling member and in this event, there is provided the stud 271. If detachable connection is not desired, the yoke may be permanently connected to the swiveling member, as indicated in Fig. 2, should it be desirable to employ the lubrication feature. Should it be desirable to omit the lubrication feature and employ only the detachable connection between the yoke and the swiveling member. the stud 271 will not be apertured and will not be provided with the pressure operable lubricant closure feature 5 1. All the parts in this form of the invention bear numerals of the five-hundred series.

The invention claimed is:

In a double ball caster of the ball locking type having a yoke and a load anchoring member, the

combination of a pair of series of locking balls, the upper series primarily for load and the lower series for lateral thrust, a top plate having an upwardly arched annular groove for upper ball operative engagement and confinement, a centrally apertured cup having a lower inner inturned portion for lower ball engagement for laterally confining and supporting the lower balls, the upper end of the cup having an abuttable contact with the top plate, a sheet metal shell clampingly associating the cup and plate together and peripherally encircling the same, and a single, one piece internal central member rigid with the yoke and extending upwardly through the aperture in the cup and terminating near its upper end in a lateral enlargement terminating considerably short of cup inner wall engagement, said central member enlargement having an upwardly and outwardly directed, arcuately sectioned in cross section, ball seat for engagement by the lower portions of the upper balls and confining said balls against inward movement, said central member enlargement having an outwardly and downwardly directed similarly sectioned ball seat for engagement by the upper portions of the lower balls and confining said balls against inward movement, the outer peripheral surface of the enlargement being of a diameter not greater than the outer diameter of the effective peripheral contaotof the largest diameter of the series of balls.

WILLIAM H. NOELTING. 

